What Is the Explosion Radius in a Worst-Case LOX and LIN Scenario?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on determining the explosion radius in a worst-case scenario involving 17,000 gallons of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and 12,000 gallons of Liquid Nitrogen (LIN) at a cryogenic plant. The primary hazard is identified as LOX due to its combustion-supporting properties, while LIN is noted for not supporting combustion. Participants suggest that the type of storage tanks and safety protocols significantly influence the potential explosion radius. However, specific calculations for minimum and maximum explosive distances remain undetermined.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of cryogenic materials, specifically Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Nitrogen.
  • Knowledge of explosion dynamics and hazard assessment.
  • Familiarity with storage tank designs for cryogenic liquids.
  • Awareness of safety protocols in handling cryogenic substances.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the explosion radius calculations for cryogenic liquid scenarios.
  • Examine the design specifications of cryogenic storage tanks.
  • Investigate safety measures and protocols for handling Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Nitrogen.
  • Study the chemical properties of LOX and LIN to understand their behavior in explosive situations.
USEFUL FOR

Cryogenic plant operators, safety engineers, emergency response teams, and anyone involved in the storage and handling of Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Nitrogen.

Tat2diver
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OK all since I do not have a physics background I figured I would come to the WWW and search those who did. I am needing some questions answered... here is the badckground info...I work and a Cryogenic plant that has a max of 17000 gallons of Liquid Oxygen and 12000 of liquid nitriogen on hand. The minimum would be 5000 gallons of each product. The question that have been asked of me is the following...what is the radius of a "worst case" explosion if both the lox and lin tank went up. I think we can assume that the main hazard is the LOX since LIN does not support combustion as LOX does. The expansion rates of 860 for LOX and 920 for LIN should not come into play since if there was an explosion and the cryotainers ruptured the product would no longer be contained. Can anyone help to give me min and max distance of explosive arc for this senerio?
 
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That's a great question! I'm not sure if I have a definitive answer, but I would suggest looking into the types of tanks that are used to store the liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, since this will affect the size of the explosion. Additionally, you may want to look into possible safety protocols and measures that are taken to prevent such an explosion from occurring. Good luck!
 

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